The Glasshouse

• Mercury Prize-winning band English Teacher and Conor O’Brien (Villagers) announced as special guests for The Unthanks’ BBC Proms collaboration with Royal Northern Sinfonia.
• Radiohead drummer Philip Selway joins The Unthanks band for the performance, BBC Introducing artist Jodie Nicholson are also announced as part of the weekend line-up.
• The concert opens BBC Proms in the North East in Middlesbrough for the first time on Thursday 23 July 2026.
• Promming tickets available from £8.

BBC Proms in the North East has announced special guests for The Unthanks’ collaboration with Royal Northern Sinfonia at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday 23 July 2026.

Joining Northumberland based folk pioneers The Unthanks for the opening night of the Proms weekend will be Mercury Prize-winning Leeds band English Teacher and Conor O’Brien, the acclaimed songwriter behind Villagers. Radiohead drummer Philip Selway will also join The Unthanks band for the performance.

The concert marks the first time Middlesbrough has hosted a BBC Prom, as BBC Proms in the North East expands across Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough for the first time in 2026.

Conducted by Ellie Slorach, the performance is built around the unmistakable voices of Gateshead sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank. Their work blends storytelling and close harmony singing with a wider musical palette shaped by bandleader and composer Adrian McNally. The concert will reimagine music from across The Unthanks’ catalogue alongside orchestral arrangements. The performance will be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority.

English Teacher are one of the UK’s most exciting new bands. Formed in Leeds, the Mercury Prize-winning group combine experimental indie rock with sharp lyricism and Northern identity, building a huge following through acclaimed live performances and their debut album This Could Be Texas.

Conor O’Brien has built an international reputation through Villagers, blending folk, pop and rock with richly detailed songwriting that has earned Mercury Prize and Ivor Novello nominations, alongside praise from artists including Paul Weller, Damon Albarn and Elvis Costello.

Joining the guest line-up is BBC Introducing artist Jodie Nicholson, a North East singer-songwriter whose music combines introspective lyricism and brooding piano. Praised by BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, Nicholson has built a growing reputation for her captivating live performances.

Also announced today are special guests for Nadine Shah’s BBC Proms collaboration with Royal Northern Sinfonia at The Glasshouse on Friday 24 July. Joining Shah will be Newcastle trio Knats, one of the UK’s most exciting new jazz acts. Describing their sound as Geordie Jazz, the band blend jazz, rock, fusion and club influences and have built a reputation for explosive live performances. Knats previously appeared at BBC Introducing at the Proms in 2024 and have worked with The Glasshouse through performances, masterclasses and artist development activity. The Nadine Shah concert is supported by North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.

English Teacher said: “This is such a special opportunity to hear orchestral arrangements of our music.”

Conor O’Brien added: “I’m buzzing to join The Unthanks and Royal Northern Sinfonia for the BBC Proms at the beautiful Middlesbrough Town Hall. Expect some reworked orchestral versions of Villagers songs as well as some adventurous collaboration and sacred harmony. See you all there.”

The performance continues Royal Northern Sinfonia’s run of bold cross-genre Proms collaborations and opens a weekend of music across the region featuring BBC Singers, Maria Włoszczowska, Jess Gillam, and BBC Introducing artists including corto.alto and Maddie Ashman.

Accessibility remains central to BBC Proms in the North East, with Promming tickets available from £8, helping more people experience live orchestral music for the first time.

BBC Proms in the North East is delivered in partnership with North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority, whose support has helped make the expanded regional programme possible, particularly in new locations such as Middlesbrough.

Fraser Anderson, Chief Executive, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music said: “Bringing the BBC Proms to Middlesbrough for the first time is a huge moment for the region and this opening night really sets the tone for the weekend. The Unthanks, Conor O’Brien, English Teacher and Royal Northern Sinfonia together on one stage is exactly the kind of ambitious, genre-crossing programme the Proms in the North East has become known for.”

Adrian McNally, composer, Musical Director and pianist for The Unthanks said: “Rachel and Becky Unthank have parents from Teesside and lots of family still living there so playing in Middlesbrough is always a special event for us. Doing so with Royal Northern Sinfonia is another level however, especially after our first shows together earlier this year. They were such an artistic and commercial success for us. We look forward to building on that for the BBC Proms and alongside some brilliant special guests at Middlesbrough Town Hall.”

BBC Proms in the North East takes place from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 July 2026 across The Glasshouse in Gateshead, The Fire Station in Sunderland and Middlesbrough Town Hall.